City of Iron River garbage collection (modified)

The proposed Iron River solid waste disposal
ordinance modifications, with a public hearing
scheduled for February 18th, will result in
penalties without rising to meet State of
Michigan and US constitutional requirements
for due process.

Further, the language of the ordinance is
constitutionally vague. Will six 15 gallon
tall kitchen garbage bags be viewed as equal
to three 33 gallon garbage bags? Other
combinations? Who will make the judgment call,
a contractor's employee?

In my opinion, the City of Iron River should
not be in the garbage business at all. The
past practice as well as the proposed
ordinance places all the financial risk on
the City. The City, in turn, is prohibited
by the Michigan Constitution from making any
profit whatever. If we were doing things the
American way, all risks would be assumed by
the organization that makes the profit. The
City also becomes the collection agent. Even
for as simple a function as billing, for
profit organizations invariably get the job
done at a lower cost to the customer.

There are arrangements other than the offer
on the table that do a much better job of
providing the necessary solid waste disposal
services, and do so without the depth of
municipal involvement being discussed and
unnecessarily repeated.

In other parts of the country where garbage
collection is not included in the property
taxes, the municipality takes bids for
garbage disposal and grants a franchise for
residential services to the lowest bidder.
The franchisee provides the service
contracted for and bills the homeowner
directly. In my last experience before
moving to Iron County, Waste Management
billed me quarterly. That business model
has been tested and proven efficient and
effective. The municipality may be entitled
to some small franchise fee in exchange for
such oversight as is provided.

New Text is in bold italics

I have been told of some movement to

introduce a prepaid bag/tag system where

the garbage collector would only pick up

garbage in containers that have a prepaid

status. Four problems immediately surface.

The first is that this scheme removes the

responsibility from the property owner and

transfers it to tennents at rental properties.

If you've ever been a landlord you understand

what this could mean to your property.

The second has to do with the contractor

accepting all the profits from such a

business while assuming absolutely no

business/financial risk.

The third is that prepayment is taken for

services not yet rendered.

Fourth: Should the contractor decide to

impose an increase in fees, they have only

to issue a new design of bag or tag leaving

those who have a supply of the old style

simply stuck with having spent the money

for nothing. ( I have personally experienced

this event with Waste Management being

the service provider for yard waste!)

Would the City of Iron River sue on behalf

of the citizens to enforce the contract?

What do you think?

I urge the City of Iron River to completely
rethink how solid waste disposal is being
managed. I object to the proposed ordinance
modifications.

Bill Vajk
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